HOUSTON – Only a couple of hours in and Eleanor Tinsley Park is already starting to fill for this year's Freedom Over Texas celebration.
"Came here last year. Fireworks are phenomenal and the music, (I) think it's really something special," Jesse Welch said.
Along with several big acts hitting the stage like Darius Rucker and the Eli Young Band, folks can also enjoy plenty of food and fun before Monday night's big fireworks show.
"It's awesome, we witnessed the fireworks at Disney and these are the most legit we've seen since then. We really enjoy it," Lacey Welch said.
With temperatures through the evening in the mid-90s -- and feeling even hotter -- several metro buses are serving as cooling stations for people looking to beat the heat.
Folks are also doing what they can to stay cool.
"I just keep drinking water. Lots and lots of water that's about it and staying in the shade to cool yourself off. Otherwise it works," Debbie Hemker said.
Despite the warm weather, many say they weren't passing up on a Texas-sized Fourth of July celebration like only Houston can do.
"It's special, especially when it gets dark and you turn around and see the Houston skyline and everything and fireworks going off," Welch said.
Free parking will be offered downtown in the Theater District Parking Garages and at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
Some streets will be closed so make sure to check here for detours.
VIDEO: a look out from stage at Freedom Over Texas, some 50k people expected for tonight's 4th of July Celebration pic.twitter.com/d77wPDBGbg
— KPRCJonathan (@KPRCJonathan) July 5, 2016
PICTURES: Freedom Over Texas just getting started w/ plenty of fun ahead, we'll see you at 6 o'clock for live report pic.twitter.com/ZFg0fRxqda
— KPRC2Jonathan (@KPRC2Jonathan) July 4, 2016